Side effects following radical ratiochemotherapy

Hi ,

Just want to say a big welcome to the forum . I can’t actually help with your question but hope others more informed will be along soon .

I will pop this back up to the top so others can see it .

Take care ,

Court 

Hi Michelle K

I would also like to welcome you to the forum and, like Court, I have no personal experience of radiotherapy, I had surgery and chemo.

Hopefully things will become easier soon, but do get in touch with your Cancer Specialist Nurse or Key Worker as they should be able to offer advice,  Also speak to the Radiotherapy dept at your hospital.  Like you, I sometimes worry about taking too many pain killers, but if you are in pain, taking the prescribed amount can really help.

Bowel Cancer UK also have a very helpful and informative website and you can also get in touch with the Macmillan telephone helpline, and ask to speak to a nurse, the number is 0808 808 00 00 and is available 7 days a week from 8 am to 8 pm and (from the UK) its a free to call.

I hope your pain improves soon.

Take care,

VickiLynne

Hi Michelle

I had 5 weeks of radiotherapy and my backend was so sore I could not sit to eat. The discomfort did not end after the treatment it carried on for a number of weeks after.

I bought a Aquarius Sitz Bath and put some Epsom salts in it with water as hot as you can bear. The bath fits on the toilet and you just sit for as long as you can, I used to do this a few times a day.

I hoped that as long as there was pain then the treatment was still working to reduce the tumour, that thought kept me positive.

Stay positive the pain should suddenly ease.

Hi Eckaire55

Thanks for you reply. If you don’t mind me asking how many time we’re you having to poop a day?  Currently I’m averaging 4 times. After the first couple the pain is excruciating. No matter how many tablets I take it doesn’t dull the pain. 

I know I’m a moaning Minnie but I just didn’t expect it to be this hard!!  

Trying to stay positive xx

Michelle

I also was pooping quite a few times a day (5-8) as food goes through me very quickly - no hanging around!

A lot of the time i was in tears on the toilet it is a bit of a blur now but I sometimes sat on my hands, panted as in child birth and concentrated on my breathing, but I used the sitz bath over the toilet pan with Epsom salts and hot hot water, I think it helped and relieved my backend and made it feel better - from amazon. I dreaded having to go to the toilet and my husband could see the pain in my face. It might be worth asking your NHS contact only problem everyone is different. You need big hugs and lots of support I feel for you and hope this phase passes soon for you.

Grit your teeth, shed tears and stay positive

Big Hugs to you

Hi EClaire55

Oh bless you, thank you so much for your kind words. I was beginning to think something was going wrong. I take a normal salt Bath every day which does help.  I shall, as you say, grit my teeth and stay positive, it has to get better soon. 

Kind regards

Michelle 

Hi,

I had Chemo and radiotherapy for 25 days, 5 days a week. I had quite a number of side effects, diarrhea bowel movements between 10 and 64 times a day. The radiotherapy burnt my arse and I could not sit down for over a week as the pain was so intense.

However it all passed and it was worth it as the tumor completely disappeared .